TY - JOUR

T1 - Risk factors for potential drug interactions in general practice

AU - Bjerrum, Lars

AU - Lopez-Valcarcel, Beatriz Gonzalez

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - Objective: To identify patient- and practice-related factors associated with potential drug interactions. Methods: A registeranalysis study in general practices in the county of Funen, Denmark. Prescription data were retrieved from a populationbasedprescription database (Odense University Pharmacoepidemiologic Database, OPED) covering prescriptions to allinhabitants in the county of Funen, Denmark. All individuals exposed to concurrent use of two or more drugs(polypharmacy) were identified. Combinations of drugs with potential interactions were registered and classified as major,moderate, or minor, depending on the severity of outcome and the quality of documentation. A two-level random coefficientlogistic regression model was used to investigate factors related to potential drug interactions. Results: One-third of thepopulation was exposed to polypharmacy, and 6% were exposed to potential drug interactions during 1 year. Patient factorsassociated with increased risk of potential drug interactions were high age, a high number of concurrently used drugs, and ahigh number of prescribers. Practice factors associated with potential drug interactions were a high percentage of elderlypatients and a low percentage of female patients listed.Conclusion: Prescription data may be useful in quality-improvement programmes to identify groups of patients andpractices at increased risk of drug interactions.

AB - Objective: To identify patient- and practice-related factors associated with potential drug interactions. Methods: A registeranalysis study in general practices in the county of Funen, Denmark. Prescription data were retrieved from a populationbasedprescription database (Odense University Pharmacoepidemiologic Database, OPED) covering prescriptions to allinhabitants in the county of Funen, Denmark. All individuals exposed to concurrent use of two or more drugs(polypharmacy) were identified. Combinations of drugs with potential interactions were registered and classified as major,moderate, or minor, depending on the severity of outcome and the quality of documentation. A two-level random coefficientlogistic regression model was used to investigate factors related to potential drug interactions. Results: One-third of thepopulation was exposed to polypharmacy, and 6% were exposed to potential drug interactions during 1 year. Patient factorsassociated with increased risk of potential drug interactions were high age, a high number of concurrently used drugs, and ahigh number of prescribers. Practice factors associated with potential drug interactions were a high percentage of elderlypatients and a low percentage of female patients listed.Conclusion: Prescription data may be useful in quality-improvement programmes to identify groups of patients andpractices at increased risk of drug interactions.

U2 - 10.1080/13814780701815116

DO - 10.1080/13814780701815116

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18464169

SP - 1

EP - 7

JO - European Journal of General Practice

JF - European Journal of General Practice

SN - 1381-4788

ER -